Neighbors push back on Tiger Crossing preliminary plat; applicant says traffic study submitted and units will be rentals

A preliminary plat application for a 136‑lot performance residential development (referred to in the packet as Tiger Crossing) drew extended public comment March (date not specified) as nearby Hickory Woods residents urged the commission to require design changes or deny the plat in its current form.

Proposal and zoning The applicant proposed a mixed product of twin homes and townhouses on roughly 20.9 acres at the current terminus of Hickory Woods Drive. The property is zoned Comprehensive Development District (CDD); the applicant said the proposed gross density was about 6.3 dwelling units per acre (132 residential lots as presented in the staff packet), with roughly 30% open space shown on the preliminary materials.

Neighbors’ concerns Multiple Hickory Woods residents described the proposal as incompatible with the existing low‑density character of their neighborhood. Comments from residents included: - Fear that the development would substantially increase vehicle traffic through narrow neighborhood streets that lack sidewalks and are used for walking and children’s activities. - Worries about clear‑cutting of mature hardwood forest and loss of habitat and canopy. - Concern that the open space calculation on the applicant’s materials overstated usable open space (residents said much of the labeled open area consisted of detention ponds, buffers and easements). - Requests for larger buffers (25 feet or more), enhanced landscaping, privacy fencing, and a pedestrian bridge or bollard-equipped pedestrian/maintenance crossing at the end of Hickory Woods rather than unrestricted vehicular connectivity.

Applicant and staff responses Applicant representatives said a traffic impact study had been submitted and city staff had issued comments; the developer stated they intend construction access via Kent Drive rather than using Hickory Woods, and confirmed the units are planned as rental units (cottages, twin homes and townhomes). The developer said they had been coordinating with city departments and that site design preserved as much tree cover as feasible given topography; staff noted stream buffers and wetlands are regulated and that Corps of Engineers permitting and mitigation would be required if impacts are found.

Questions still open Residents and commissioners asked for clarity on: the open‑space calculation methodology; construction staging and construction‑vehicle routing; the specifics of required buffer widths adjacent to Hickory Woods and Kent Drive; whether the developer would restrict construction traffic to Kent Drive; and whether a pedestrian‑only connection with removable bollard access for emergency/maintenance vehicles could be provided in place of full vehicular connectivity.

Action at the meeting The meeting transcript records extended public comment and staff/applicant responses; the excerpt does not include a final vote or formal approval for the preliminary plat. Staff and applicant representatives said they are continuing coordination on required studies (traffic, wetlands and engineering) and that certain conditions (such as construction access and buffering) could be addressed through staff review and final plat requirements.

Ending note The transcript shows substantial neighborhood opposition and a record of technical questions that staff and the applicant said they are addressing. The preliminary plat remained dependent on the results of technical studies (traffic model, wetlands delineation and final engineering) and on final plat review; no final action is recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.